tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49728832262731711152019-03-21T02:10:25.682-07:00Michael E. EastProgressive Christianity, Gay Rights, and Social Issues.Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.comBlogger1933125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-56403787445392576562019-03-20T17:09:00.000-07:002019-03-20T17:09:05.674-07:00It is Written.
We think that because something is written in the Bible it must be true.
But the evidence of modern scholarship would suggest that this is not the case.
Words have been put into the mouth of Jesus and even into the mouth of God.
The Gospel of John contains long passages attributed to Jesus which do not appear in the other Gospels.
This has led scholars to assert that the Gospel of John is Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-31815926882165892762019-03-19T17:00:00.000-07:002019-03-19T17:00:02.746-07:00At Work.
God is at work in the world.
He answers prayers.
And He acts through people.
But there are less people available to Him because so few people worship Him or call on Him in prayer.
The rest of us are busy enjoying ourselves or following rock stars and celebrities of dubious virtue.
But God is available to us.
It is up to us to call on His Love.
And see that God is at work in the world.
Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-85458464628532507342019-03-18T17:23:00.000-07:002019-03-18T17:23:14.515-07:00The Universal Field.
Science is looking for a Universal Field.
This Universal Field would explain how light and matter form in the universe.
It would also explain gravity and the Big Bang.
My theory is that the Universal Field is God's Love.
Stephen Hawking said that science was investigating the Mind of God.
But I say that the Unfathomable Mystery is God's Love.
Photo Credit: Abel de Burgos Flickr via Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-59465374956542650322019-03-17T17:33:00.000-07:002019-03-17T17:33:33.879-07:00Evil.
Evil = Fear²
Evil is a rebellion against the harsh God of vengeance and judgement.
But this false image of God is itself based on fear.
Fear that God will reject us and punish us.
But this punitive, petty God is not the Reality.
In fact God loves us and cares for us.
He is our loving Father.
So take the fear away.
And where is evil?
Photo Credit: Sergio "famke" Attanasio Flickr via Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-42524625943282788982019-03-16T18:35:00.000-07:002019-03-16T18:35:58.552-07:00One.
There is no dualism.
There is only one supernatural being.
And that is God.
Everything exists in God.
The universe is a masterpiece of recycling.
Nothing ever dies.
It is just transformed.
There is no devil, no dark powers.
Evil in our world is a product of fear.
We have free will.
And we make mistakes.
This is how we learn.
But help is always available.
God's Love is there for usMichael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-59201496225105594762019-03-15T17:55:00.000-07:002019-03-15T17:55:03.605-07:00Stable.
What seems to us to be inanimate matter is in fact full of energy.
And the solid and firm is in fact a form of stability.
It is energy bound into solid form.
Without the solid forms of matter that surround us we would not be able to function.
We need stability to live.
And this stability is a manifestation of God's Love.
God has made for us a beautiful garden in which to live.
Thanks beMichael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-67218537180765536692019-03-14T17:00:00.001-07:002019-03-14T17:50:54.160-07:00Death is Not.
Rather than thinking in dualistic terms of life and death we should be thinking of inanimate objects as undergoing transformation.
For example: a dead branch on a tree is not really dead.
It is transformed as fuel for a fire into heat, or as wood for a table, or it decomposes as humus to help trees and plants grow and flower and produce fruit.
When the soul or spirit leaves the human body itMichael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-33727436897569704632019-03-13T17:14:00.000-07:002019-03-13T19:39:08.451-07:00Death of Death.
The famous hymn that states "Death of death and hell's destruction", instead of the traditional deadly sins and burn in hell, is closer to the truth than orthodox theology.
When you make contact with the Living God the Life and Light and Love that emanate from Him see the death of death and the destruction of hell.
Because we see that death never existed and there can be no hell.
The Love Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-56999405998874773032019-03-12T17:00:00.000-07:002019-03-12T17:00:06.237-07:00The Words of Life.
Having discovered the evil in rock music I returned to the Church in the hope of finding an answer.
And there I found the Words of Life:
Life. Light. Love.
Mercy. Compassion. Forgiveness.
Charity. Selflessness. Giving.
Courage. Peace. Day.
"Love God and love your neighbor."
Deliverance. Salvation. Good.
These are the Words of Life.
Photo Credit: bambe1964 Flickr via Compfight cc Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-16631386334484725652019-03-11T17:00:00.000-07:002019-03-11T17:00:02.446-07:00Death Music.
Rock music is the music of death:
Death. Darkness. Hate.
Meanness. Selfishness. Taking.
Cynicism. Ridicule. Bullying.
Fear. Violence. Night.
"We are the Dead."
Materialism. Blasphemy. Evil.
Rock music is the music of devil-worship.
Photo Credit: www.factormetal.com Flickr via Compfight cc Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-49220797816169242112019-03-10T17:03:00.000-07:002019-03-10T17:03:22.714-07:00God's Fool.
When the world starts telling you you are a fool you will know you are on the right track.
God's goodness and virtue are foolishness to the world.
What fool sacrifices his advantage for the sake of principle?
What fool rejects temptation for the sake of virtue?
God's Fool.
The Love of God is a treasure with no equal.
We are willing to sacrifice everything for this treasure.
And be Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-84717987573824416722019-03-09T17:27:00.000-08:002019-03-09T17:27:30.843-08:00Back to Basics.
We have lost sight of all honesty and integrity.
With the advent of Market Values has come a justification of corruption in the name of profit.
Anything that makes money is justified.
Honesty and integrity are no longer required.
It is time to get back to basics.
Why?
Because corruption and evil cause untold suffering for the many.
A privileged few may profit from these hidden practicesMichael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-60308133215938055062019-03-08T16:08:00.000-08:002019-03-08T16:08:20.907-08:00Zion.
"In the days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. People shall stream to it, and many nations shall come and say: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.'" Micah 4:1,2 (NRSV)
This Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-21429633439878596132019-03-07T16:02:00.000-08:002019-03-07T16:02:41.066-08:00The Good News.
Hear the Good News:
God does not punish us.
God does not judge us.
God does not ban sex.
God does not condemn homosexuals.
God does not subjugate women.
God welcomes everyone.
He is our loving Father.
And He loves us like His children.
He is always available to help.
His mercy is sure.
His forgiveness is absolute.
And His Love is everlasting.
Pray to God with a sincere heart.
AndMichael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-77513911980735565752019-03-06T17:26:00.000-08:002019-03-06T17:26:16.654-08:00The New Age.
After 2000 years of the Age of Pisces we are now entering the Age of Aquarius.
This New Age will see a new religious paradigm.
It will be based on human values.
And it will be international and interfaith.
The Christian component of this New Paradigm will reflect the human nature of Jesus.
His inclusive humanity.
And his human faith.
God will be seen as merciful, forgiving, Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-23889292088223933342019-03-05T16:00:00.000-08:002019-03-05T16:00:05.959-08:00A Greater Power.
There is a greater power in our world than the corporate plutocrats who control our employment.
And that is the Living God.
The creator and sustainer of the whole universe.
If you put your faith in Him you will be free of the fear and intimidation that the plutocrats impose.
We all have to eat.
God will feed you.
We all have to work.
Work for God.
God will provide.
There will always Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-81031119594089153132019-03-04T16:02:00.000-08:002019-03-04T16:02:48.271-08:00Turning World.
Time.
Since the 1980s when the conservative capitalist conglomerate turned the zeitgeist to the right and the anti-gay religious lobby ruled we have seen inequality and intolerance increase.
But with the emergence of the Religious Left and the education of young people the spirit of the age is beginning to turn.
The gay scapegoat, so popular with the Fundamentalists, is no longer valid. 83Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-20617300781934028972019-03-03T16:00:00.000-08:002019-03-03T16:00:02.184-08:00Gay.
Imagine what it would be like to be told that you are excluded from God's Love.
And not only that but that God hates you.
Imagine how that would make you feel.
This is exactly what young gay and lesbian people are being told.
Is it any wonder that most of them say they don't believe in God.
Better no God at all than a God who is like that.
Some may even turn to Satan out of desperation.
Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-47772892363932401682019-03-02T13:18:00.000-08:002019-03-02T13:19:20.296-08:00Gay Scapegoat.
The attempts by some high ranking Cardinals in the Catholic Church to blame homosexuals for the child sexual abuse scandals is yet another example of the Church's seemingly endless capacity to avoid responsibility for what has taken place in its own organization.
Some have called for homosexuals to be banned from ordination.
As if this would somehow solve the problem and absolve them of Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-56460761067443926642019-03-01T16:29:00.000-08:002019-03-01T16:29:38.525-08:00CCTV.
Have you noticed the closed circuit television cameras everywhere?
There are T.V. shows dedicated to spying on people with CCTV.
Inevitably they are caught cheating or breaking the law.
Does this remind you of anything?
It reminds me of George Orwell's classic novel 1984.
Everyone is under surveillance to keep them in line.
Our corporate masters have appropriated this aspect of the novelMichael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-74122784347542759502019-02-28T17:15:00.000-08:002019-02-28T17:15:29.808-08:00Search.
And the end of all our searching will be to find the love in our own hearts.
And to pour out our love to God and to all humanity.
Photo Credit: Aspenlaub (blattboldt) Flickr via Compfight cc Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-3961574647970384082019-02-27T16:01:00.000-08:002019-02-27T16:01:55.388-08:00Return.
After 30 years of pragmatic capitalism the people of the world are weary of war.
We are distressed about the level of inequality in our world.
And we are sick of corruption.
So we have seen a return of the longing for peace.
And we have once again turned to spirituality.
The reign of the secular pragmatic economists is a failure.
They wage war and sell materialism.
This does not bring Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-19948645749448947322019-02-26T16:04:00.000-08:002019-02-26T16:04:34.570-08:00Can Do.
What we can do in this 21st Century global culture is create a world that is just and fair for all.
We have the means to remedy the gross disparity in wealth between the nations.
The United Nations and new national governments can combine to help the developing countries of the world.
And this would be done not only with aid but with economic development such as we have seen in China and Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-77751282245690042762019-02-25T16:00:00.000-08:002019-02-25T16:00:03.586-08:00The Law.
Accepting God as king over us does not mean that we can disobey the law of the land.
God's Law is more stringent than man-made laws.
So, in fact, we become more law-abiding than we were before.
Photo Credit: kennethkonica Flickr via Compfight ccMichael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4972883226273171115.post-34349449915061010912019-02-24T17:09:00.000-08:002019-02-24T17:09:18.502-08:00Plot.
It is the plot of the plutocrats to threaten, seduce, bully, hypnotize, brainwash, torture, harass, and control everyone.
They own the media.
They manipulate religion.
They demonize their enemies.
And damn any challenge.
They whitewash evil.
They usurp righteousness.
And take Heaven by force.
And all this is done for money!
Photo Credit: Official MichBio Flickr via Compfight cc Michael Easthttps://plus.google.com/109409767285761760934noreply@blogger.com0